On 03.2.20 9:53 AM, "Chris Brogden" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Thu, 20 Feb 2003, KT Takeshita wrote: > >> On 03.2.19 2:32 PM, "Bruce Rubenstein" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >>> The ZX/MZ series was also introduced with a mid range camera (ZX-5). >>> With a metal lens mount it is not a low level entry camera. >> >> There are too many armchair commentator like this, speaking >> definitively as if he knows everything (as usual) mixing his own >> speculations but speaking for Pentax. > > I don't see the need for hostility here. Oh, just take it easy. *ist has all hallmarks of at least mid level camera and I too thought that it was not an entry level camera in the usual sense, but just because of that, I would not "definitively" call it a mid level camera as if I already knew it when Pentax themselves are clearly saying in writing that it is an entry level one. I cannot speak for Pentax or say something contradictory to what Pentax clearly said. I also happened have heard from a reliable Pentax source that this was intended as an entry level camera. The only difference from the "entry level" camera in a usual sense is that Pentax is packaging mid level features yet making it easier to operate by tyros, or at least that's what they say. If this package (entry level combined with mid level features) is priced to compete with other brands' entry level camera and/or no lower model is released, it is definitely an entry level camera. Beyond that, it would be a word playing :-). > >> So, it sounds to me that the *ist covers the entry level market AS >> WELL AS mid level. Does this mean there will be no lower level >> camera? Perhaps, but I do not know. But it seem to coincide well >> with the recently announced Pentax philosophy to reduce the number of >> models in the future. > > I can see them dropping the number of models down to about three. 1. The > entry-level MZ-60 (or its replacement), designed to compete almost solely > on the basis of price. 2. The *ist, meant to replace the MZ-6 and MZ-5n > and to compete with the F80/Elan 7... a good mid-range camera that tries > to maximize features for a reasonable price. 3. An upper-end model, which > could replace or surpass the MZ-S. You could very well be right and I hope you are, because you included the upper end model :-). If there would be no lower model below the announced *ist, then MZ-60 and other MZ series will have to fade away rather quickly. According to Pentax, all their SLRs will bear some sort of *ist naming. > I can see Pentax dropping their mid and upper-end models, but I can't see > the *ist being the entry-level camera they claim it will be. Again, you could be right in spite of what Pentax are saying. *ist simply has too many features. But again, Pentax may have succeeded to lower the production cost by optimizing the material (plasticky) and a better electronics packaging, combined with FAJ lenses (and possibly made in their Chinese or Vietnamese plants). We'll see :-). Cheers, Ken
